The question now is will this make the Bills core players stronger or will it “kill”

[BuffaloBill]

The age old saying is what does not kill you will make you stronger.

 

The 2025 -2026 season is done. Time to move on to 2026-2027.

 

The following players most likely represent the “core” for the Bills:

 

Offense:

Josh Allen

Dion Dawkins

Spencer Brown

James Cook

Khalil Shakir

(I struggled here - Knox, Kincaid, Hawes)

 

Defense:

Deone Walker

Ed Oliver

Christian Benford

Cole Bishop

(Btw - I could not put Terrell Bernard here because he is imo “spent” physically)

 

Bills Mafia must also “recover” and renew.

 

This one hurt - will it improve strength or kill?

 

[SirAndrew]

Most of these guys have already been through this a few times. It hasn’t made them stronger, if stronger refers to winning a title. I don’t think this changes anything. We need more talent, and a coaching staff who doesn’t throw screen passes on third and eight with a chance to put the game away. 

[NewEra]

Good post.  Great question.  
 

As a die hard Bills fan, I have to think it will make us stronger.  If I don’t, there is no hope.  When there is no hope, enjoyment is removed. I’ll pass on that though.

 

but it could certainly just as easily crush our souls

[MarlinTheMagician]

I would add a few to that core - Hairston and Torrence, for starters. This will not crush us - give Cooks the catch he deserved and we won that game.  Despite a bunch of stupid turnovers.  

[Brand J]

Move Dawkins and his contract for a 2nd if you can get one.

[Governor]

Dawkins

Knox

Oliver

 

Trade asap while they still have value. They won’t after next season.

[longtimebillsfan]

I felt different about this playoff loss then the others.  I wasn't as angry or frustrated.  I had , if you will, a moment of clarity.

 

I have accepted the fact that this regime, including Josh, will never win a Super Bowl.  I will continue to watch and enjoy Josh and all the wins we rack up in the regular season.  I will look forward to watching the Bills in the playoffs, but with no expectations of any kind.

 

i am tired of the ridiculous string of bad luck that always seems to befall our Bills.

 

I will always be part of the Bills Mafia, but I just don't have the energy to defend McDermott from the folks that want him fired after every loss or Beane for his misses in the draft.

 

I realize that this regime has had more overall sustained success than any in the Bills history.

 

Those that want new management are just frustrated.  I don't think changing the coach or gm is the right move.  But that is just me.

 

I spoke to a Jet's fan recently.  I said to him, "I guess it is even worse being a jets fan than a Bills fan" He replied, "at least you are n it every year".

 

Maybe we should just enjoy what we have and not lament what we have yet to achieve.

 

Go Bills...ugh.

[BhamBillsFan]

You're forgetting Shaq Thompson, probably our best defender! Something needs to change! Working harder isn't the answer, but I know that Sean McDermott will say. Working smarter, yes, but sometimes you have to just admit, what we're doing is good, but not great, and doing the same thing over, will not yield better results. Bring in Tony Robbins or some consultant in breaking habits that don't allow you to come through in clutch situations! If they won't fire McDermott, then fire Beane. Things need to be shaken up at the top.

[SoonerBillsFan]

6 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

The age old saying is what does not kill you will make you stronger.

 

The 2025 -2026 season is done. Time to move on to 2026-2027.

 

The following players most likely represent the “core” for the Bills:

 

Offense:

Josh Allen

Dion Dawkins

Spencer Brown

James Cook

Khalil Shakir

(I struggled here - Knox, Kincaid, Hawes)

 

Defense:

Deone Walker

Ed Oliver

Christian Benford

Cole Bishop

(Btw - I could not put Terrell Bernard here because he is imo “spent” physically)

 

Bills Mafia must also “recover” and renew.

 

This one hurt - will it improve strength or kill?

 

At some point as humans they will say " why bother ".  Just like superbowl 28,when Thurman fumbled you saw the entire team just say screw it.  " here we go again" is what they thought.

 

It gets to a point where they believe no matter what they do, it wont be good enough.

[BullBuchanan]

Shaw Thompson was the best player on the defensive side of the ball this season.

Bring him back next year, let Milano go, and put Bernard in Milano's spot while you draft up and train replacements for both of them.

Roll with Groot, Walker, Oliver, Epenesa until you can get better at DE.

Hairston takes over for White next year

Draft a safety but have a competent vet ahead of him with Lewis in reserve

[Process]

The guys looked absolutely crushed post game. 

 

Makes me feel even stronger that it's time for a regime change. 

 

Where does the motivation and confidence come from if we just run it back? It's been 8 years. 

[JP51]

I think the question is will we get rid of the FO... if we run it all back it will kill us and we are doomed to never winning anything ever with Josh ... if the make massive changes it could propel us. I don't think that trusting the process is enough anymore for them... but it ultimately starts with Beane his player personnel decisions and wasted contracts and refusal to get 17 weapons etc... are mass incompetence and dont think the players don't know that.... then there are the ones who a worth it like Mack Hollins, Poona Ford and Tim Settle that he doesn't keep (maybe this is on McD as Well) that kills us... waiving Ingram to CLaim Slay sheer ineptitude... of course his drafting... so he hits mass ineptness in pretty much every facet... over paying for poor free agents, resigning his own poor to mediocre players to mass contracts , drafting poorly, not retaining the right players, and complete disregard and incompetence with regard to the personnel we need to be successful... if that doesn't change nothing changes let it go for too long you will have wasted Josh

 

[Walking Tall]

Even the Super Bowl Bills teams eventually broke down and didn’t make the playoffs for a year.

 

I suspect we may see something like that next season. Sooner or later these tough losses will take a mental toll on the franchise.

[Mikie2times]

6 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

The age old saying is what does not kill you will make you stronger.

 

The 2025 -2026 season is done. Time to move on to 2026-2027.

 

The following players most likely represent the “core” for the Bills:

 

Offense:

Josh Allen

Dion Dawkins

Spencer Brown

James Cook

Khalil Shakir

(I struggled here - Knox, Kincaid, Hawes)

 

Defense:

Deone Walker

Ed Oliver

Christian Benford

Cole Bishop

(Btw - I could not put Terrell Bernard here because he is imo “spent” physically)

 

Bills Mafia must also “recover” and renew.

 

This one hurt - will it improve strength or kill?

 

If somebody fails, they learn from in, then they succeed, the success gets reinforced. If they just keep failing that gets reinforced as well. I don't see what else we can learn from these losses that we haven't already.

[BillsShredder83]

4 minutes ago, Process said:

The guys looked absolutely crushed post game. 

 

Makes me feel even stronger that it's time for a regime change. 

 

Where does the motivation and confidence come from if we just run it back? It's been 8 years. 

I am the ultimate glass half full guy. I dont understand how anybody can respond better to hearing McD anymore. He does not have the clutch factor. That game, and multiple years previously,  it was obvious in the game that we did not have what it takes to finish them off. 

 

Even if we pulled that off yesterday by accident.... theres no way we were winning 2 more road games.

 

Its exactly the Phil Jackson situation. The boys need some hope.

 

I will say I think McD is a good coach, and great human being. A great role model for all the players that come through. Id even cheer for his next team.... but its insane to think about rolling this back

[transient]

Without any turnover in coaching or GM, we need a dominant defender, whether on the line, a rush end, or a LB with a bad attitude who can disrupt games, hold the rest of the defense accountable and get the whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. An Allen for the defense, if you will, without the nice guy attitude. 

[tigerthelion]

No, I don't  think so.  If 13 seconds didn't result in different results, I don't think this will.  How many times do you need to go through this to come out the other side?  It is a never ending cycle. 

[Niagara Dude]

1 hour ago, longtimebillsfan said:

I felt different about this playoff loss then the others.  I wasn't as angry or frustrated.  I had , if you will, a moment of clarity.

 

I have accepted the fact that this regime, including Josh, will never win a Super Bowl.  I will continue to watch and enjoy Josh and all the wins we rack up in the regular season.  I will look forward to watching the Bills in the playoffs, but with no expectations of any kind.

 

i am tired of the ridiculous string of bad luck that always seems to befall our Bills.

 

I will always be part of the Bills Mafia, but I just don't have the energy to defend McDermott from the folks that want him fired after every loss or Beane for his misses in the draft.

 

I realize that this regime has had more overall sustained success than any in the Bills history.

 

Those that want new management are just frustrated.  I don't think changing the coach or gm is the right move.  But that is just me.

 

I spoke to a Jet's fan recently.  I said to him, "I guess it is even worse being a jets fan than a Bills fan" He replied, "at least you are n it every year".

 

Maybe we should just enjoy what we have and not lament what we have yet to achieve.

 

Go Bills...ugh.

I will agree with some of your statements,  I do not agree that Allen will never make or win a Super Bowls.  I think some changes are needed and we surround him with better talent

[BillsShredder83]

2 minutes ago, Walking Tall said:

Even the Super Bowl Bills teams eventually broke down and didn’t make the playoffs for a year.

 

I suspect we may see something like that next season. Sooner or later these tough losses will take a mental toll on the franchise.

Perfect time to let it happen. We need to retool the roster.

 

I dont see a new HC getting us over the hump year one. Let them come in, ditch the always hurt guys. Get the right fits for their system.... eat bad cap $$. Miss playoffs as a result....  get a year picking higher to help retool the talent pool...  then we can hit it hard the season after next

[IYKYK]

3 hours ago, Brand J said:

Move Dawkins and his contract for a 2nd if you can get one.

He has seriously taken a step back this year. He played at a extremely heavy weight that hindered his movement. Might be time to either trde him for picks or move him inside. Not sure how he would handle being a guard.